Solar Power Advances Keep Coming in 2008

Scientists and engineers continue to find ways to improve the efficiency and economics of solar power, which many are eying as one possible way to help curb greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

Just last month, Sandia National Laboratories and Stirling Energy Systems (SES) set a new world record for solar energy conversion efficiency. Their "Serial #3" solar dish reached a 31.25 percent net efficiency rate, breaking the previous record of 29.4 percent set in 1984.

Efficiency measures the ratio between the energy a solar dish produces versus the total solar energy hitting the dish.

"Gaining two whole points of conversion efficiency in this type of system is phenomenal," said Bruce Osborn, president and CEO of SES. "This exciting record shows that using these dishes will be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way of producing power."

Osborn added that SES is now working to prepare the system, dubbed the "SunCatcher," for commercial use.

The SunCatcher system boosted past efficiency figures through a combination of improved optics, a more effective radiator, a new and high-efficiency generator and perfect weather at Sandia's National Solar Thermal Test Facility in New Mexico.

"It was a 'perfect storm' of sorts," said Chuck Andraka, lead Sandia project engineer. "We set the record on Jan. 31, a very cold and extremely bright day, a day eight percent brighter than normal."

During the two-and-a-half-hour-long test, the SunCatcher system generated 26.75 kilowatts of electrical power. SES has already signed agreements with Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric, which are interested in using the system for power generation. Those agreements call for up to 70,000 solar dish systems that could generate as much as 1,750 megawatts of electricity.

Other recent advances in solar technology include improvements in organic solar cells, a prototype device that uses solar energy to convert carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide that helps generate hydrogen fuel and the possibility of actually printing solar cells.